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3.5 months. Temperament seems to setting in hard and fast. Any tips.

Esand

Well-Known Member
Pretty crazy how she's gone from cuddling with friendly strangers to wanting absolutely nothing to do with them. She'll try and escape them to get back to me. Tonight she stared down another pedestrian and actually bared her teeth at him as he walked by.

Any tips for a first timer?
 

karennj

Well-Known Member
This breed is absolutely fascinating to me. No advice at all but just keep her and others safe!
 

angelbears

Well-Known Member
This is where I stopped interacting with the public. For me there was no more friendly stranger encounters. Keep socializing but stay well away from people. Take her in the car, go to parking lots and sit with her in the car. Go to parks but keep her far away from people but let her watch and see. From this point on you will have to be very vigilant.
 

Esand

Well-Known Member
This is where I stopped interacting with the public. For me there was no more friendly stranger encounters. Keep socializing but stay well away from people. Take her in the car, go to parking lots and sit with her in the car. Go to parks but keep her far away from people but let her watch and see. From this point on you will have to be very vigilant.

Why did you do that? I had been thinking the oposite, try and ramp up the socialization but keep an eye on her. Try and teach what are legit threats vs random strangers.
 

angelbears

Well-Known Member
To keep people from getting bit. Mine would bite. He did not like being touched by strangers. A lot depends on your abilities and your dogs nerves and yours. Ideally, you should be able to have your dog stand by your side and ignore people. I found the public is STUPID. Even if you ask people not to approach or not to reach out to pet, there is always that one in the crowd that will. Other than those that the Fila lives every one is a stranger. They don't like strangers. One wrong move and a Fila can strike with lightning speed.

Filas are one of the only breeds that judges in the show ring are not allowed to touch. If they do and the dog bites they are not disqualified. That should give you a clue as to their temperament and tolerance for strangers.
 

Esand

Well-Known Member
Oh I know what their temperament is like. I guess I feel like I can run interference for the next little while. She's still pretty small so I want to take advantage of the fact that she can't get away from me too easily.
 

angelbears

Well-Known Member
Just realize that your dog is telling you that she doesn't like people. Basically, you have been warned. If she bites, it's on you not her. Good luck!
 

karennj

Well-Known Member
Can you muzzle train her that way everyone stays safe when out and people will be very hesitant to approach? People are unpredictable and stupid!
 

Hector

Well-Known Member
My dog was like that a young age. This is a sign of a dog that lacks confidence, exposure, and training. Bond with the dog through training (obedience or games). The dog learns to look to you for direction and with a good amount of exposure and on leash obedience, the dog will learn.

Filas are very food motivated. Food is a good place to start. Take time to teach basics and then build upon reliability. You will be amazed.
 

Hector

Well-Known Member
Wait, I see it. My dog was like that minus the being cuddly with strangers. He was scared and didn't like interaction with strangers. He would shy away from new people trying to pet him and would lunge at people walking by on leash. Sorry for any confusion.
 

angelbears

Well-Known Member
Cane could be a sack of nerves but rarely when it came to people. Machinery rattled him and terrible separation anxiety. However, he was pretty clear that he hated people and from an early age. At first it did look like fear, he would duck his head, move away. About a month after that some fool stuck his hand in the truck to pet him(told him not to). He grabbed his hand and quickly spit it out. At that point his breeder and other Fila people cautioned to never allow that to happen again. He was gaining confidence and next time we more than likely wouldn't be so lucky.
 

Rugers-Kris

Well-Known Member
There is no way of knowing if what you are dealing with is Temperament or it's because your pup lacks confidence. More information is needed to truly decide that.

If it is indeed temperament then you must be very careful with socialization while still doing what you can to socialize.

Crowded areas are not a place for a true Fila. As AB said, you can not count on people to stay away. There are always those "all dogs love me" idiots that will reach out to pet your dog even after you have made it clear that he is not friendly or the person that slips up behind you and grabs him from behind. A true Fila is supposed to react to what they believe is a threat on their own. That means that your dog is not going to look to you to help him decide what to do next.

This is not to say they should be untrained, lunging maniacs so they should be socialized in safety and of course obedience trained, however, they are not supposed to like strangers or accept new people and will protect you when THEY feel a person as a threat so you need to mindful of all that. A true Fila will require you to put them up before bringing in visitors and they WILL bite.

Now, whether you have a Fila with a true temperament, I don't know but I would treat him as if he does to be safe.


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Esand

Well-Known Member
My dog was like that a young age. This is a sign of a dog that lacks confidence, exposure, and training. Bond with the dog through training (obedience or games). The dog learns to look to you for direction and with a good amount of exposure and on leash obedience, the dog will learn.

Filas are very food motivated. Food is a good place to start. Take time to teach basics and then build upon reliability. You will be amazed.

That's interesting, Leia is the least food motivated dog I've ever owned. I've tried a whole bunch of high value treats and while the best ones will get her to eat in the street (kibble, dog treats will be ignored even when placed in her mouth) they don't generate much excitement.


Okay wait, so OP what is the question here?

Basically looking for experience from others on how they taught their pup to distinguish threats from non threats. To take cues from you. I want to make sure that I can take Leia out on walks and that she will recognize when she needs to intimidate or defend and when she doesn't.

So far she is ok with being petted by strangers as long as I'm holding her or petting her myself. If I'm not actually touching her she'll try to avoid them and retreat to sit next to my leg.